Multi-cabin property -- best platform for reservations?

Question

Hi all,
We're buying a six-cabin rental/hotel property, in a seller-financing situation, staggering out the sale in three years. The current online reservation system is very old school (like email, excel sheet style).
I have run my own Airbnb properties for 7+ years and know the value of that system as far as user interface, scheduling, and all of it.
BUT, this property is approved for 20 total cabins that we'll long-term build out (plus RV sites), and I think I want to integrate a hybrid system of scheduling -- some on Airbnb, but also my own website (utilizing Google adwords, current web traffic, etc) and blend the two platforms.

A. Good idea?

B. What are you all using to host your own reservations on your own website?

Thanks,

Sammi

Brooklyn McCarty · Answer

You might benefit from Avery Carls book, Short Term Rental, Long Term Wealth. It’s a guide for STR’s. Quick read and the best investment you can make in yourself getting started.

Leslie Anne Morris · Answer

If you use an integrated tool to auto post out to all booking sites you could accomplish this easily. I use Ownerrez. Build the listing on Ownerrez and then have the system push the listing out via API technology to VRBO / Airbnb etc. Any updates are automated via the same channel. If a guest books on one platform the dates are blocked on the other channels preventing duplicate bookings.

Drew Sygit · Answer

Put all of them on all systems for maximum exposure.

Chase Hoover · Answer

@Sammi Johnson would love to hear a deeper dive into the details of your financing structure and development plan - sounds creative.

We use Eviivo for our boutique motels - also considered ResNexus.  Built websites on Wix and linked "book now" buttons to our Eviivo interface.

Zareena Sameen · Answer

I also manage a number of vacation rentals and use Hostaway to automate everything plus they provide a website. With that many units and a plan to expand, in my opinion, should be looking to upgrade systems.

Sammi Johnson · Answer

@Brooklyn McCarty thanks! sorry, acronyms -- what is a PMS? and an OTA?

Brooklyn McCarty · Answer

Sounds like a fun project. You need a PMS. Most have doesn’t booking sites so you could pick and choose what you want to list direct Vs OTA’s.

It will also make your life so much easier with auto messaging and more.

Sammi Johnson · Answer

Love it, thanks!

Sammi Johnson · Answer

@Michael Baum

I won't forget those, just haven't used! Familiar with Airbnb. I feel like the term Airbnb is like the Kleenex term of short-term rentals.

Anyway, it'll take building up our cash flow and reinvesting our revenue into building the cabins. Over time. RV sites first b/c they are less expensive to build-out.

Michael Baum · Answer

Hey @Sammi Johnson, don't forget VRBO and soon, Booking.com for your cabins. There are tens of thousands of users on those platforms.

What will it take to expand to 20 units besides building the cabins?

Where is it located?

Multi-cabin property -- best platform for reservations?

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